Not again... By FACE PLANT FOR LIFE (Read 829 times)

[Bashan]

Yeah Alley, that's why I get paid what I do, we take simple things and make them sound complicated to justify the charges! Didn't you people know tha.......um......never mind...

Glad you're OK Talisman guy. Rich

[xringracing]

Let me tell ya, the potholes here in Cleveland this year WILL KILL YOU!

I'm new here, but I have been riding my 50cc chinese for 4 years now. I had no issues until one evening in my 2nd season I decided to go on a quick 5 minute ride at sunset around my neighborhood. I turned down a street I had never been down before and could not see well. I could tell you could go straight or turn left, I made a decision to go straight but as i got closer and closer within my headlight range I saw a cable stretched across the road. But it was too late, right as i hit the brake the road turned from pavement to gravel and I started a sideways skid and rolled off the right hand side of the scooter. I was only going about 20 MPH. Picked up my scooter, shut the motor off, sat there for a minute while people rushed up to see if I was ok. A man could see I was hurting, holding my left arm, kinda dazed. All the way up my right arm to my shoulder was totally full of gravel and road rash. I didn't want to get a ticket so refused to let the people call for help, so I drove home with the air hitting my road rash stricken arm it felt like someone was holding a match to it. I "manned up"...lol, and had my wife clean the gravel out of my wounds... worst pain ever! Then I went to bed. My left wrist hurt but I thought it was just bruised. when I woke up the next morning I could not squeeze the toothpaste with my left hand to brush my teeth. That's when i knew I had to get it checked out. I fractured it, and had to wear a cast for 6 weeks that killed the rest of my riding season! I also had to go around telling strangers and cute women that I had an accident on my ninja . The funny part was I rolled on my right side, and never hit my head or my left side. Bt my left wrist got fractured. I believe it hit the handle bars when i flew off. The road I had decided to go down, was not actually a road, it was an elementary school property and was a bus turnaround! It was my fault, but I was pissed that they had no sign hanging from the cable. I would have seen it in time to avoid or lessen my accident had a sign been hanging from it. I meant to go back just to tell the school about my accident to save others from the same fate , but never did. I have noticed they have changed it now and is no longer a danger. 

As it turned out, later i discovered I had 1 of 2 working headlights. All this time I did not realize both lights were supposed to work on high and low beams. I thought one was high and one low. After i fixed my lighting it was a big difference, but still very inadequate.

Bottom line, stay off dirt, gravel and night rides without upgrading lighting. I still cringe when i'm forced to go over loose dirt or gravel ,but I stay calm and all is fine!

I just bought a 300 cc and the lighting is much better but still inadequate IMO. I plan on adding lots of led lighting, to make this sucker light up like a christmas tree very soon before I go on more night rides! Not only so I can see better, but so others can see me!

Here's the scoot and in the close up you can see some of the scratches from the accident. 

[Bashan]

Well we're proud to have you here with us on Scooter Doc XR. Low speed spills can damage the bike, and you, as much as high speed crashes. Your story illustrates the need to go get checked out if there's any question something might be broke. What 300cc did you move up to? Rich

[xringracing]

May 11, 2014 21:30:52 GMT -6 Bashan said:

Well we're proud to have you here with us on Scooter Doc XR. Low speed spills can damage the bike, and you, as much as high speed crashes. Your story illustrates the need to go get checked out if there's any question something might be broke. What 300cc did you move up to? Rich


Thanks Rich, I picked up a 2012 used DF300STG with 700 miles on it. I'm a little frustrated working through typical chinese issues right now, but I love it so far. Ironically, one of the issues is the high beams cutting out while driving, a short in the switch I hope But in the interest of not hijacking this post, I will add it to my thread about this bike over in the 250 cc section. 

[novaraptor]

The main things I picked up on here, aside from the pain, is that you were riding, at night, on unfamiliar dirt roads, in low visibility..DON'T DO THAT!! Change at least a couple of those things. If your headlight is insufficient for night riding (and a lot of them are) upgrade it, or stay on roads you know. If the lighting is good and road dust is the problem, increase the follow distance and slow down. I thing you just put yourself in the "perfect storm" for accident probability..
Good to hear you seem to be ok and the scooters up and running.. As they say, any one you walk away from....

[FACE PLANT FOR LIFE]

My headlight actually provides a ton of light in my opinion. Road dust WAS my problem in this scenario. As I told my brother, I'll be damned if I ever stop riding my scooter. As long as that engine is still running and I'm alive, I'll be riding!

[xringracing]

May 12, 2014 8:52:04 GMT -6 novaraptor said:

The main things I picked up on here, aside from the pain, is that you were riding, at night, on unfamiliar dirt roads, in low visibility..DON'T DO THAT!!  I think you just put yourself in the "perfect storm" for accident probability..

I agree, this is what I was trying to convey in my long winded post... Don't stop riding, but take this experience to heart, and realize you need to make some changes to stay safe. 


Even though your headlight may seem sufficient at the moment, I think if you play around with some lights you will realize it is not and you will see a HUGE difference.

Night riding...unfamiliar roads, dirt roads.... a disaster waiting to happen. 

[jvino]

Glad to here you are feeling better bud. Those light are pretty rad looks like it has a blue tint to it? I tell you what you are finding scoots for great deals.

The red scooters nickname is terminator. smiley-alien011

[jvino]

Welcome to the sight x ring racing glad to have you. welcome

[jvino]

I saw a crater of a pot hole today near were I live. Wow if would of hit it would of seen sparks and possibly stars. Hope your doing ok bud havn't seen you post in a while.

[rks]

I too have noticed his absence of late. Hope all is going well for our young friend....Bob